Worcester looks at water, sewer rate hikes

Friday

Mar 21, 2014 at 8:56 PM

By Nick Kotsopoulos TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF

WORCESTER — The city is looking to increase water and sewer rates by amounts that would increase the combined water/sewer bill for the average single-family home by roughly 3.8 percent, or a little more than $21 annually.

Paul J. Moosey, commissioner of public works and parks, is recommending a 3-cent increase in the water rate, to $3.54 per 748 gallons of water used.

He is also recommending a 35-cent increase in the sewer rate, to $6.29 per 748 gallons of water used.

The sewer bill for residential properties is based on 80 percent of metered water usage.

Meanwhile, the water rate for out-of-town water users will remain at $3.80.

If approved by City Council, the rate hikes would push the average annual combined water/sewer bill to more than $1,000 ($1,029) for the first time.

Mr. Moosey noted that the annual bill for a city water/sewer user has soared by $630 since 2001, fueled in large part by unfunded state and federal mandates.

He said Worcester has the distinction of having the greatest percentage increase in the country in combined water and sewer costs since 2001. During that period, the city's costs have gone up by 158 percent, compared to 99 percent for the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority, 128 percent for other U.S. cities and 143 percent for Massachusetts cities not part of the MWRA district.

But even with the rate increases, Mr. Moosey said combined water and sewer charges in Worcester will remain below those of the MWRA, which serves communities in the eastern part of the state.

He said the average annual water/sewer bill for homeowners in the MWRA district is roughly 40 percent more than that average bill for Worcester homeowners.

"While these comparison still favor the city, it is clear that Worcester is keeping pace with state and national trends in water and sewer cost," Mr. Moosey wrote. "With potentially enormous increased expenditures associated with pending new stormwater and (Upper Blackstone plant) permits from the EPA on the horizon, Worcester's water and sewer costs may soon approach those of the MWRA communities."

Most of the 5.9 percent increase in the sewer rate is attributed to increased wastewater treatment expenses associated with the operation of the Upper Blackstone Water Pollution Abatement District sewage treatment plant in Millbury.

"This is a continuation of a trend that has been in place for over a decade that is driven by the need for more capital investment to upgrade old and deteriorating water, wastewater and storm water systems, and more significantly to comply with state and federal unfunded environmental mandates," Mr. Moosey wrote in a report that goes before the City Council Tuesday night.

"Unless there is a change in the application of those regulatory requirements to municipalities, Worcester ratepayers are likely to see rate hikes for the foreseeable future that are much greater than the modes increase recommended (for next fiscal year)," he added.

City Manager Edward M. Augustus Jr. said his administration will continue to work on advancing a plan that achieves the goals of the Clean Water Act in a manner that is "environmentally, socially and economically sustainable."

In his report, Mr. Moosey pointed out that 15 cents of the 35-cent sewer increase is needed to fund increased costs associated with the Upper Blackstone treatment plant.

Meanwhile, 14 cents of the increase is needed to pay off debt related to the sewer system, and the remaining 6 cents is needed to pay employees' salaries and fringe benefits.

Mr. Moosey also pointed out that as the city's water and sewer rates have escalated during the past 10 to 15 years, city residents have responded by using less water.